TJ Maxx visit helps campaign dress up Ann Romney interview

The Mitt Romney campaign cobbled together campus furniture and some do-dads from TJ Maxx to transform a dingy office into a comfy study-like set for Ann Romney to do interviews during her Milwaukee visit Thursday.

Ann Romney's appearance at Marquette University was held in the "old gym" on campus, 1530 W. Clybourn St., a facility best known as the practice space used by the Warriors basketball teams led by legendary coach Al McGuire.

The campaign's advance team pulled together furniture from nearby offices, and went shopping for trinkets and other decorations to make the space look nice, said Ben Sparks, campaign spokesman.

"They went out and bought a ton of stuff," he said, adding that "most of it stayed in the bags."

"They wanted to make it look presentable," Sparks said. "The room was dressed up."

Sparks said the campaign wanted to give a "homier feel" to a routine office.

"It provided a comforting setting befitting her role in the campaign, and as Mitt's wife, and the mother of his children and her role as the 'rock' of the campaign," Sparks said, using Romney's expression to describe his wife's supportive role.

Such prep work is routine for national campaigns, Sparks said. "Every politician on the planet always does this."

Among the items purchased in the TJ Maxx visit: a picture frame for a snapshot of Ann and Mitt Romney that was prominently placed, facing the camera.

Once the interviews were concluded, the set was taken down and the props put away - including those from the discount store. Most of the purchased items were returned, Sparks said.

"Nothing that was used was taken back," he said.

About James B. Nelson

James B. Nelson is a reporter for PolitiFact Wisconsin and a deputy business editor.